Page 81 of Love By The Falls

Is this really happening?

What…how…fuck!

“I—” My lips feel numb, and the words die at the tip of my tongue. I have no clue what to say while my brain catches up to the revelation.

She inhales deeply and lets the air out slowly from her nostrils. Suddenly, I remember how difficult this must be for her.

“Shit. I’m sorry.”

She drops her head into her hands but stares up at me. “You don’t have to apologize. I was the one who reassured you I couldn’t get pregnant.I’msorry.”

I shake my head. “That’s not what I was apologizing for. I just realized this must have been quite the shock for you, too.”

She laughs wryly. “Yeah, you could say that. I only recently started wearing maternity jeans. Until now, I used an elastic to keep my pants up.”

I chuckle at her joke. “That’s funny.”

“Are you certain I’m the father?” I ask and immediately regret the question. I hold my hand up. “Forget I asked that.”

She raises her eyebrows but nods her head. “Look, I’m not asking anything of you. You made it clear you didn’t want children, but I felt at the very least you should know.”

“Yes, of course. I’m glad you told me.”

Glad isn’t really the right word, but I hope she understands the sentiment.

“I’m having the baby.”

I nod as I somehow figured she would.

“He or she will have my last name, same as Charlie’s, so no one will have to know you’re the father except for us…well, and Sage, and Jane, oh and Austin, too.”

A smile twitches on my lips. “Got it.”

“I’ll raise the baby in Cedar Brook Falls and tell everyone that the father is a man I met while on vacation. No one needs to know your name.”

“Cedar Brook Falls? That’s where you’re from?”

“Yes.”

“And it’s a small town?”

“Very much.”

“Have small towns changed? Won’t that explanation shock everyone?”

“Nope. It’ll be shocking, and then they’ll move on to the next town gossip. But this one will last for at least a year. Unless Mrs. Weinstein finally leaves her lying, cheating husband.” Her nose scrunches up when she says that, and I can’t help but smile at how cute she looks.

Cutetiful. That’s what she is. Cute and beautiful at the same time. She’s a sweet and caring woman, and if circumstances were different, I would probably jump at the chance to date her. But she’s from a small town, andI’m here in Queens, married to my work. Perhaps in another lifetime we will connect, but for this one, it just won’t work.

But that doesn’t mean I will shirk my responsibilities.

“Charlotte, you’re the one carrying this child and the one who’ll decide whether you’d like to keep it or not. If you wish to keep the baby, then I’ll help you—financially.”

She stares at me. “Financially.”

“Yes.”

She crosses her arms and leans back in her chair. “Um, that isn’t necessary, especially if you don’t want to be a part of the child’s life. Jason doesn’t pay me child support, so I won’t ask you to, either.”

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